Former Texas Longhorns RB D’Onta Foreman wins Doak Walker Award

Though a Heisman invitation exceeded his reach, former Texas Longhorns running back D'Onta Foreman will still exit Austin with some hardware after being named the Doak Walker Award recipient on Thursday.

The award honors the nation's top running back and after Foreman lead the FBS in rushing yards and rushing yards per game with 2,028 and 184.3, respectively, Foreman hoisting the Doak Walker Award was to be expected. Foreman becomes the first Longhorn to win the award since Cedric Benson in 2004.

Alongside Foreman, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey were finalists for the Doak Walker trophy. Cook rushed for 1,620 yards and 18 scores as a junior, while Pumphrey finished second in the nation with 2,018 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior.

En route to becoming the second 2,000-yard rusher in school history, Foreman’s season was highlighted by his pursuit of Earl Campbell’s record of 11 straight 100-yard rushing performances. Foreman snapped that record with his 12th straight 100-yard game during a 250-yard showing against Kansas before cementing his record with a 13th straight 100-yard game during Texas’ season finale against TCU.

Foreman rushed for at least 124 yards in each of his 11 games in 2016 and had he played against UTEP and rushed for just 97 yards, he would have surpassed Ricky Williams as the Longhorns single-season leading rusher.

A former three-star prospect out of Texas City, Foreman concluded his collegiate career after three seasons and a historic junior campaign. Foreman rushed for 2,783 yards and 20 touchdowns at Texas. Foreman is a projected first or second round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.